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My chest rises and falls with each pant. Sweat coats my forehead, chest, and back.

“P-Please,” the man who hangs from the ceiling by his wrists begs. His pleas are distorted from the swelling of his face. He’s just lucky I didn’t use my brass knuckles this time.

“All of this can stop, Teddy, as soon as you say who you sold information to about Declan’s whereabouts.” I shrug with my palms up, feigning an apologetic gaze.

Blood, snot, and spit drip from his busted face. One of his eyes is so damaged, I doubt he’d be able to see out of it once it’s healed.

He whimpers when I circle him predatorily.

“I swear, I didn’t sell any information to anyone.” He cries.

“Hmm. So, the anonymous wire transfer of $15,000 to your account just days before we were ambushed is a coincidence?” I tut with a disappointed shake of my head.

I grip the hair at the back of his head roughly and jerk his head back. “You can either tell me, and I will put you out of your misery, or I can hand you off to Declan.”

All color drains from his already pale face.

“No! Please no!” He pulls frantically at his restraints.

Declan Moore – The leader of the Irish Mafia – slowly and painfully dismembers people for fun. His methods are known throughout the entire underground and very few have the balls to stand up to him.

Me? My methods, while less Jigsaw in manner, are no less bloody. I enjoy the feeling of bones crunching under my fists. I thrive on the slight twinge of pain I feel in my knuckles. The strain I experience in my arms from exertion is euphoric.

Beating the shit out of people allows me to drop my laid-back persona and let the beast inside out for some much-needed freedom.

People fear and respect me just as much as Declan. I might grant some people survival when I’m done with them, but they are guaranteed a life of never-ending pain. I leave them with disfigured limbs that cannot be corrected without surgery, which they are forbidden to receive.

Fuck with me or my family and I will fuck with you and yours.

I glance over my shoulder when I hear footsteps. Declan and Liam step into the room.

“Finish this up. We have a meeting with Antonio at Skyline,” Declan orders, lifting his chin at Tommy.

I bring my eyes back to Tommy and raise my brows expectantly. “Last chance.”

His mouth opens and closes but he doesn’t say a word.

I suck on my teeth sharply then raise my gun and press it to his forehead. I pull the trigger before he has a chance to beg for his life.

* * *

Bad Guy by Billie Eilish plays loudly through the club speakers. Beautiful women of all shapes, sizes, and races fill the space and dance with each other or the men and women who plan to take them home tonight.

I follow Declan up the steps to the VIP lounge and sit next to him at our table. A waitress is already waiting with our drinks.

“Thanks, gorgeous.” I wink and she blushes before scurrying off to do her job.

Declan checks his watch, then brings his glass of Irish whiskey to his lips.

“What are we doing meeting with Antonio?” I ask after sipping my drink.

“He only mentioned wanting to discuss a big order,” He replies. “He didn’t say how big, but he sounded on edge.”

I hum with a nod, then glance around the club at the partygoers.

Tonight is the grand opening of Declan’s club, Skyline .

He has a few legitimate businesses scattered throughout the state of New York to help keep attention away from his less than legal escapades.

The reason for Skyline is to have a public place to have meetings with allies such as Antonio – the Don of the Italian mafia.

Meetings used to be held at the estate in the past, but Declan doesn’t like the idea of having supposed allies so close to his home.

I agree with him.

Another glass is set in front of me once I finish off my current one. I don’t pay any attention to the waitress this time. All my focus is on the tall, slender goddess the bouncer just let through.

I watch as she makes her way up the steps and fuck if I don’t feel every sway of her hips in my dick.

I shove Declan with my elbow. “I call dibs on the blonde.”

“I wasn’t even looking at her; have at it.”

Her long, straight blonde hair falls down her back like a waterfall of gold. Her lips are thick with a natural pout that I hunger to have wrapped around my cock.

A white top made of lace hugs her torso, pushing her breasts up. Those skin-tight leather pants enhance her endless legs and as she catwalks past our table. My eyes home in on how they wrap around her tight ass.

Mine.

I quickly glance at Declan, who is salivating at her petite friend with thick brunette waves and olive-colored skin.

A shrill “Declan!” breaks our trance and I growl.

Jackie Romano is Antonio’s sister and a pain in my ass. She’s like an STI you can’t treat. She and Declan had been fucking on and off for a few months, but she wanted more, so he stopped seeing her.

Unfortunately for everyone, she hasn’t seemed to grasp the memo.

I tune her out when she perches herself on the armrest at Declan’s side and begins whining about not hearing from him.

My body is screaming for me to take my ass to where the blonde and her friend are but I’m here on official business.

I summon a guard to my side and lean into his ear. “The two women sitting at the last table.” He nods, confirming he knows who I’m referring to.

“Don’t let them out of your sight.”

“Yessir,” he grunts, stepping back.

“ Bastardo!” Jackie shrieks and stomps away.

“You’re such an ass. I love it.” I chuckle, lifting my glass to my lips.

“Yeah, well, she wouldn’t be so bad if her voice didn’t bother the fuck out of me and she wasn’t a spoiled and whiny bitch.”

My attention is caught by Antonio walking toward us. Declan and I stand and greet him. I stare down the two men who accompany him while maintaining a relaxed position.

They repeatedly flick their gazes from mine to each other, clearly on edge.

It’s a struggle not to laugh at their uneasiness.

They are more than aware that I could crush their bones without breaking a sweat.

As Declan’s righthand and enforcer, my reputation is known throughout the underground.

When Declan moves toward the door leading to his office, I walk directly behind him, keeping my body between him and Antonio.

I bite the inside of my lip to avoid smirking when I feel the burning sensation of the blonde’s eyes as we walk by their table.

Once the meeting is over, Declan and I walk down the steps leading to the main space of the club. The guard let me know the women were on the dance floor, so I scan the area in search of them.

“There,” Declan says, pointing to the right. I glance over but only see the brunette walking toward the restroom.

“Go, I’ll find the blonde.”

We go our separate ways.

I find her seated with a fucking tool at one of the smaller bars in the corner. She smiles at whatever the fuck he just said in her ear.

Those are my fucking smiles.

My phone pings, and I angrily rip it from my pocket.

I return my phone to my pocket without replying and head toward the blonde just as the brunette walks up to her. Her smile drops and concern covers her face.

As I step closer, I catch the tail-end of their conversation.

“Paige, come on, it’s your birthday. You should enjoy it.”

Her eyes lift above Paige ’s head, a flirtatious smile spreading over her face when she sees me.

“Did I hear correctly? It’s your birthday?”